At least 33 Isis fighters have been killed in the airstrikes.

Nov 18, 2015 19:27 IST

Reports out of Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State (Isis), claim that family members of Isis leaders are being moved to Mosul (Iraq) as both France and Russia increased their attacks on the group's hideouts in the region.

With no place to hide, the families of the Isis leaders have been moved to Mosul, UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), told Bloomberg.

The report said that Isis was forced to do so because in the last three days of intense airstrikes, at least 33 Isis terrorists have been killed and many have been wounded; the airstrikes targeted Isis ammunition depots, barracks and checkposts in Raqqa.

After the Paris attacks, France declared that the country was on war with Isis. Since then, French warplanes have carried out several strikes in the last three days beginning Sunday.

On Tuesday, Russia also intensified its attacks on Raqqa, after Moscow confirmed that Isis planted the bomb on the Russian passenger plane, which exploded mid-air in Egypt's Sinai region, killing all 224 passengers on board.

The airstrikes have been welcomed by residents of Raqqa. "As French fighter jets pummel [Isis] locations in Raqqa, civilians enjoy more freedom because they escape another day of suppression," an eyewitness from Raqqa told ARA News.

Media activist group, "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently", denied claims by Isis that civilians have been killed in the recent airstrikes. It said, "They (Isis) hide in their headquarters like rats, so people enjoy some freedom," such as smoking.